to a Knowledge of the Hydnaceae 201 



in a wire basket over a stove where they may be heated as much 

 as possible without danger of scorching. This will insure the de- 

 struction of insects, eggs and larvae. If then placed in small 

 paper boxes, or, if not intended immediately for the herbarium, in 

 tight paper bags with a few moth balls, they will be practically 

 safe from these ravagers. 



The fleshy species will undergo a greater change in this proc- 

 ess of drying, sometimes so great as to be wholly unrecognizable ; 

 it is, therefore, necessary in addition to make special preparations 

 of one or two specimens. This may be done by (i) Cutting a 

 vertical slice through center of pileus and stem ; (2) Half the re- 

 maining pileus is placed right side up, the other half with the under 

 side up ; (3) The remainder of the stem is placed with its outer 

 surface uppermost, and the plant thus spread out is pressed and 

 dried between dryers as in the case of a flowering plant, but with 

 less pressure. 



* 



A spore print should be obtained in every case where it is pos- 

 sible. This should be taken on a square of plain paper, light or 

 dark colored, in contrast with the color of the spores. The print 

 may be obtained in two ways : (1) As indicated above under 

 " Collection " ; this will give excellent results as to color of spores 

 and does not injure the plant ; but (2) If a typical spore print is 

 desired, the stem should be cut from the plant close to the under 

 surface of the pileus, and the latter placed with the hymenial surface 

 downward, on a sheet of paper of the proper color and then pro- 

 tected from draughts by inverting a bell glass or tumbler over it. 

 The spore print may be permanently fixed by spraying with a solu- 

 tion of white shellac in alcohol by means of an atomizer. 



III. Notes 



As 



in a fresh condition, good field notes become of the utmost im- 

 portance. In fact, specimens without accompanying notes are 

 oftentimes practically worthless. 



On finding a plant or group of plants, there should be noted 

 first, the environment and character of substratum, the growth 

 habit, whether solitary, scattered, grouped, or cespitose. Then 

 the plant itself should be examined and all its features carefully 



